Method of and apparatus for manufacturing crochet-needles



G. A. CABLSON. METHOD OF AND APPARATUS MANUFACTURING CROCHET NEEDLES.

' APPLICATION FILED AUG-3h 1920.

1,391,365. PatentedSept. 20,1921.

""IIIIIIIIHIL UNITED STATES,

PATENT OFFICE.

GUSTAV A. CARLSON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE BOYE NEEDLE COM- PANY, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS,

A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

METHOD OF ,AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING CROCHET-NEEDLES.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GUSTAV A. CARLSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Methods of and Apparatus for Manufacturing Crochet-Needles, of which the following is a specification. V

This invention relates particularly to the manufacture of crochet-needles; and the primary object is to provide an improved and simplified method of and apparatus for producing such a needle.

According to the improved method, the steel shaft which is to be employed in manufacturing the needle in suitably swaged in a swaging machine to give it the desired taper at one end; the tapered end is then stamped in a set of dies which produces the hook, but leaves a web of metal, in the center of which is located a hook, the sides of the hook appearing as'an embossment at each side of the web. In this condition, the unfinished needle is introduced in the dies and the male die punches the hook in the female die which acts as a trimming die, thus removing the web.

The method of manufacture may be explained with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 represents the male die of a set of trimming dies; Fig. 2, the female die of said set of dies; Fig. 3, a broken sectional view on an enlarged scale, taken as indicated at line 3 of Figs. 1 and 2; Fig. 4, a broken view showing the crochet hook after the first die-forming operation; and Fig. 5. a broken View showing the hook-end of the crochet-needle in the finished condihook is formed by stamping between thedies the taper end of a steel shaft; in this forming operation the small extrem1ty of the shaft, designated 1, is left projecting from a web 1' which surrounds the outline of the hook C. The female die A is in the form of a block applitd to the larger block Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Sept 20, Application filed August 31, 1920. Serial No. 407,236. 7 v

A and containing a recess 2 which corresponds in outline with the outline of the hook C. The block A is cut away on one side, as indicated at 3, thus affording a channel adapted to accommodate the shaft or handle portion of the needle-hook. The recess 2 is so formed as to enable a wedgeshaped trimming piece 4 to be inserted and secured in position. The piece 4 tapers to an apex 4 which furnishes the trimming portion of the die which is adapted to shear the web which is within the hook, as indicated at 5 in Fig. 4:. The metal of the female die surrounds the outline of the recess 2 and is adapted to trim or sever the web 1 completely from the hook. The extremity 1 of the original shaft is adapted to enter a guide-groove 1 with which the guide-block A is provided at its vertical edge which is adjacent the block A and spaced slightly therefrom.

The die B is provided with a male portion 6 whichhas the outline of the hook; and this raised hook portion is itself provided with a small concavity 6 which is adapted to receive the convex side of the hook which projects from one side of the web 1*, as will be understood from Fig. 4. In the operation of the dies, the male portion 6 forces the hook into the recess 2,thereby completely severing the web from the hook. The web and the tip portion 1 of the shaft are discarded.

Following this method, the shafts may be accurately 'swaged in a swaging machine; they may then be stamped in dies which give the outline of the hook; and the hook may be finished by the operation that is illustrated. The male die B may be conveniently replaced as often as may be necessary, and the portion 4: of the female die may be replaced conveniently, when necessary. Inasmuch as it is necessary that this portion should taper to a fine apex, the method of constructing the die which is illustrated is advantageous.

What I regard as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. The method of manufacturing a crochet-hook which comprises stamping the extremity of a shaft between dies to form a hook, and a central fin surrounding the hook; when toning the hook inte a fema e die by means of a male die, the dies being adapted to completely sever the fin from the hook.

2. The method of manufacturing a crochet-hook which comprises stamping the end portion of a shaft between dies which form a hook, and a finwhich projects from the outline of the hook and carries a projecting end of the shaft;v then placing the article in dies Which comprise a female die having the outline of the hook and a male diehaving the outline of the hook, employing the projecting end of the shaft as a guide, and by means of these dies forcing the hook into the female die, thus trimming the web and the end portion of the shaft from the hook.

3. A/ pair of dies for the purpose set forth, comprising a female die having a hook shaped recess surrounded by trimming Walls, one of said walls extending into the'crotch of the hook, and a male die having the outline of the hook and provided Witha concave surface, the male die being adapted to force the crochet-hook into the female die and completely trim therefrom a Web, as set forth.

' GUSTAV A. CARLSON. 

